Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen addressing a media conference in the Department of Information yesterday (20) said , the price of rice has risen due to the conspiracies of certain disgruntled politicians in the country. Certain rice mill owners and businessmen should be held responsible for the price hike of rice. When rice millers and dealers pointed out the drought as the main cause for shortage of rice, we allowed import of rice. There is a procedure to be followed in importing rice. If any person importing rice violates import procedure stern action will be taken against him.
After considering the quantity of rice consumed in the country, the cabinet decided to import 2.5 lakhs metric ton of rice. But the government has imported 86,000 metric tons of rice adding that in the Sri Lankan Market there is 400,000 metric tons of rice.
The Minister said if they had put the 400,000 metric tons of rice out into the market there is no way the price of rice could increase. Rice millers hoarded paddy without converting into rice and release to the market.They were doing it with the connivance of politicians. We strive hard to bring out hoarded rice into the market. To defeat an attempt by certain politicians to discredit the Government by creating artificial shortage for rice in the market, we imported sufficient rice and fixed maximum prices for imported and local rice. Maximum price for rice was fixed after discussing with the President, Prime Minister, Ministers Sarah Amunugama and Mali Samarawickrema. It was only after a discussion gazette notification was issued fixing maximum price for local and imported rice.
Minister Rishad Bathiudeen further said cases have been filed against 1,200 shop owners for violating the control price on rice and the Consumer Affairs Authority has completed at least 4,000 raids this month and proceeding with more raids. He added that apart from detecting violation of price control on rice the Consumer Affairs Authority also found rice deemed inedible from 3 different places.He has warned stern action against traders who violate price control and hoarding. Consumers are requested to phone 1977 and report violation of price control by traders and hoarding of rice to Consumer Protection authority.
